Tag: Liberia

The outcomes of programs for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) are affected by the way in which they are implemented. More participatory approaches, where ex-combatants feel they have had more say and greater ownership, lead to better results. This is important for how DDR can contribute to the wider peace process and to peacebuilding itself. Establishing trust during DDR is significant for political reconstruction.

This case study report analyzes Liberia’s progress in security since 2003, after 14 years of conflict. It discusses progress achieved in personal security since 2003, analyzes the factors that contributed to this progress, examines remaining challenges, and identifies policy lessons. When compared to other factors that are driving the change in security, security sector reform has been a small but significant factor to improving Liberia’s security environment.

Even with the United States committing military assets to help combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the international effort still required to stop the outbreak remains daunting. It extends beyond the deployment of doctors, nurses, health workers, or even isolation wards and treatment facilities. Specifically, what is needed is a massive logistics effort to establish the necessary capabilities for the reception, staging, and onward transportation of the equipment and supplies necessary.

The spread of the Ebola virus throughout West Africa is occurring at a faster rate than aid efforts can mobilize. International media attention is focusing on the efforts of frontline health and humanitarian organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, and Médecins Sans Frontières. However, UN peacekeepers currently stationed in Liberia part of the UN mission known as UNMIL could also play a role in these efforts.

Liberia’s programmatic roll-out of five regional Justice and Security hubs, which seek to de-concentrate state justice and security (J&S) services nationally, is an underestimated initiative. Although the model presents an important possibility for the Liberian government to break from its past, its potential may not be met, as post-war reforms have focused too heavily on frameworks rather than actual change for Liberians.

Following years of human rights violations and large scale losses of life, when the second Liberian civil-war ended in 2003 under the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Liberia began an extensive security sector reform process. Perhaps the most dramatic changes have occurred within the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Liberia is the only country in the world to have completely dissolved its national military following such a conflict.

Liberia’s programmatic roll-out of five regional Justice and Security hubs, seeking to deconcentrate state justice and security services nationally, is an underestimated initiative. The model’s capacity to provide clear, nationally accessible core public services outside the capital city presents an important possibility for the Liberian government to break from its past. Yet its strong potential may not be met as post-war reforms have focused too heavily on frameworks rather than actual change for Liberians.